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BBQ Chicken Dip
October 16, 2016 Lee
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BBQ Chicken Dip

This sounds like a wonderful dip for an appetizer or for a snack when watching a sports game. But I really think that this scooped up and used in a tortilla would be the perfect choice. I will make this soon! Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams Cream cheese, this is 2 blocks, softened
  • 1/4 cup mayo
  • 1/4 cup BBQ sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup red onion, chopped, plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped, plus more for garnish
  • 2 cups chicken, cooked and shredded
  • 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C and get out a baking dish.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the Cream cheese, mayo, and BBQ sauce of your choosing, using the shortcut for this will save you some money. Once that is mixed, stir in the Mozzarella cheese, salt, garlic powder, onion, cilantro and shredded chicken. Once combined, spread this into your baking dish.
  • Sprinkle the Cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the the Cheddar cheese is melted, bubbly, and starting to brown up just a bit.
  • Remove from the oven, garnish by drizzling with some BBQ sauce then topping with a bit of cilantro and onion.
  • Serve as a dip with a big bowl of potato chips OR, spoon onto tortillas and roll up, then enjoy.

Notes

Chicken will run about 30-40 Baht/500 grams which should be good for 2 cups of shredded chicken. 30 Baht being thighs, 40 Baht being breasts, I would go with a bit of both, so I will say 35 Baht for the chicken. Cream cheese will run about 240 Baht, the Mozzarella cheese would cost about 90 Baht, and the 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese will run about 45 Baht. For 6 servings, this is about $2 per serving, a bit less for 8 servings. This sounds like a great dish for a every once in a while meal or appetizer.
Shortcut: Basic BBQ Sauce.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
* High Cost $1.51+ per Serving,APPETIZERS / SNACKS,CHICKEN & TURKEY
BBQ Chicken Pizza
October 16, 2016 Lee
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BBQ Chicken Pizza

Adapted from an internet recipe.
BBQ sauce used instead of tomato sauce, this sounds really good! On my to make list next time our daughter visits, she loves pizza! The pizza dough listed is to make TWO 12 inch pizzas, this recipe is for ONE BBQ Chicken Pizza, and the other pizza can be anything of your choice or you can double this recipe (not the crust part) and make two of these. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 1 12 inch pizza

Equipment

  • Pizza Pan (12 inch)
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

For the Pizza Dough

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon instant yeast
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, optional

For the BBQ Chicken Pizza

  • ¼ cup BBQ sauce, Shortcut
  • 1 to 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup chicken, cooked and cubed or shredded
  • ¼ cup red onion
  • ¼ cup cilantro, chopped

For the second Pizza

  • sauce, of your choice
  • toppings, of your choice

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 200° C (400° F). Get out your 12 inch pizza pan or baking sheet, spread just a bit of cornmeal on it, this will prevent the crust from sticking, or just use a bit of flour.
  • Divide the dough into two pieces. Using one piece, pat or roll this out to cover your pizza pan, spread the BBQ sauce over the dough to ½ inch of the edge, use more as needed, no one will complain.
  • Spread the Mozzarella over the sauce to your liking, 1 to 2 cups. Spread the chicken over the cheese, and spread the onion over the chicken, then sprinkle on the cilantro.
  • Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from the oven and let cool 1-2 minutes then slice and serve.
  • Repeat the steps with the sauce, cheese, and toppings of your choice for the second pizza.

Notes

No need for prices on this. This can be inexpensive or as costly as you determine by the amount of cheese and other toppings used for the second pizza. Pizzas make a great meal for visiting family, as I have not met a Thai that does not like pizza. Using the shortcut for the BBQ sauce and for another pizza, the tomato sauce, will save you money as well.
Note 1. I make a lot of pizzas here, I bake the crust with just the sauce first for about 8-10 minutes before adding cheese and or other toppings, then bake again to brown it all up. When I make this BBQ Chicken recipe, I will give the results on how the recipe is stated and how the baking first works.
Shortcut: Basic BBQ Sauce.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,PIZZA
3 Ingredient No Churn Cookies ‘N Cream Ice Cream
October 15, 2016 Lee
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3 Ingredient No Churn Cookies ‘N Cream Ice Cream

This sounds really good! Next trip to the city I am going to have to pick up some Oreo cookies!
Print Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup whipping cream, cold, 35%+ fat content is better
  • 1/2 cup condensed milk, plus 2 tablespoons
  • 5 Oreo cookies, filling removed

Instructions
 

  • Place the Oreos (or any chocolate cookies) (fillings removed) in a ziplock bag. Press the air out and seal. Use a rolling pin or flat side of a meat tenderizer to smash the cookies, feel free to leave some big if you like as well.
  • In a mixing bowl, add the cream and whisk until stiff peaks form. Then transfer 1/4 of the whipped cream into a mixing bowl that contains the condensed milk, Beat this together. Gently fold in the remain whipped cream in 3 batches.
  • Fold in the crushed cookies. Transfer to a airtight container, cover, and freeze over night.
  • To serve, allow the container to thaw on the counter for 5-10 minutes before scooping out.

Notes

Whipping cream is about 95 Baht for a 250 ml container, this is just a bit over 1 cup. For 4 servings, this comes to about 70 cents per serving.
Provided by The Domestic Goddess Wannabe and the link to this recipe is here.
Singapore.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,DESSERTS
Classic Club Sandwich
October 15, 2016 Lee
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Classic Club Sandwich

A Classic Club Sandwich is a double decker sandwich with fillings consisting of mayo, lettuce, tomato, bacon, chicken (or turkey), that's it, nothing more. This recipe is a guide only and no pricing will be given for this, think leftover roast turkey or chicken. This would be great for a good sandwich for lunch or a light dinner, or even making many for a group of friends over to watch a sports game. Variants to the Classic Club are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 1 sandwich

Ingredients
  

  • 3 slices white bread
  • mayo, as needed
  • bacon
  • lettuce leaves, as needed
  • tomato slices, as needed
  • chicken, cooked and sliced, or turkey, as needed
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Get your tomato sliced, some leaves of lettuce pulled off the head, then fry up your bacon, figure 4-6 slices per sandwich. and while the bacon is frying, slice up some cooked chicken or turkey, roasted would be preferred but is not a show stopper. When the bacon is nearly done, toast the 3 slices of bread but let them cool for a few minutes before you start building the sandwich.
  • Lay the 3 slices of toasted bread out in a row, spread some mayo on each slice. On EACH of the first two slices, place 2 or so lettuce leaves, crossing each layer, keep it neat, no stuff hanging over the sides of the bread, then place some tomato slices to cover the lettuce, season with salt and pepper to your liking. Now place 2-3 slices of crispy fried bacon over the tomatoes, again, no sloppiness, break up the bacon nothing hanging out, then place some sliced chicken or turkey over the bacon, season with salt and pepper to your liking.
  • Pick up the first slice of bread and set that on top of the second one, now pick up the third slice and place that third slice, mayo side down on the top, almost done.
  • Insert a long tooth pick or cocktail skewer in each place where you see the red dots, then after that, cut the sandwich along where you see the dashed lines, cut the sandwich in half, then cut each half in half, done. Serve with a pickle and some potato chips or fries, you have a lunch or light dinner.

Notes

No prices given as a lot depends on quantities of ingredients used. Over all, it is very minimal in cost.
Variants. These will change the cost per sandwich but is minor.
Breakfast Club - Bottom slice: fried egg, 2-3 slices of fried bacon. Middle slice: tomato slices topped with lettuce leaves.
Ham Club - Replace the bacon with several slices of ham on bottom and middle slices of bread, everything else is the same.
Ham & Cheese Club - Replace the bacon with several slices of ham and some real slices of Cheddar or Swiss cheese on bottom and middle slices of bread, everything else is the same.
Avocado Club - Add avocado slices on top of the chicken or turkey on the bottom and middle slices of bread, everything else is the same.
Roast Beef Club - Replace the sliced chicken or turkey with a good portion of thinly sliced roast beef, everything else is the same. A great way to use up left roast beef!
Ok, you get the idea.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BURGERS & SANDWICHES,LEFTOVERS
No Boil Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
October 15, 2016 Lee
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No Boil Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Spend with Pennies, Holly, Canada.
These sound absolutely wonderful, and when making a big dinner on the stove top, many times you can run out of burners available, so put the slow cooker to work.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker (6+ quart)

Ingredients
  

  • 2½ kilos potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks, (5 lb)
  • ¾ cup chicken stock, fresh or from powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons Cream cheese, softened, optional
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Place the potato chunks into your slow cooker, add the onion and garlic powders and pour in the chicken stock. Cook on Low setting for 6-7 hours or High setting for 3-4 hours. You want the potatoes to be just soft enough to mash.
  • When the potatoes are cooked, right there in the slow cooker pot, mash the potatoes with a masher then stir in the butter, sour cream, parsley, cream cheese, and season with salt and pepper to your liking. Serve.
Sides - Slow Cooker
Au Gratin Potatoes I
October 15, 2016 Lee
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Au Gratin Potatoes I

Cheese and potatoes, my kind of side dish. This can be costly depending on the cheese you use, but would be a great meal for visiting friends and family. This is an unusual method, but works surprisingly well. This is not your typical potatoes swimming in cheese sauce recipe, the potatoes soak up butter from the bottom of the dish, and some of the cheese sauce on top soaks down into the potatoes. I made this on 31 Aug 2018, excellent potatoes!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/4 kilos potatoes, washed, skin on
  • 1 onion
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded, OR use Swiss cheese
  • salt and cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 200 C (400 F), get out a casserole or baking pan and lightly grease with butter. (I used a smaller amount of potatoes so I used my 5x7 baking dish.)
  • Thinly slice the potatoes into 1/8 inch thick slices, a mandolin would be the best item to use for this, it is faster than using a knife and will provide uniform slices.
  • After the potatoes, slice the onion as thin as possible as well, again, a mandolin works great with the onions, separate the onions into rings as well. (I know, crappy photo.)
  • Once the potatoes and onions sliced, make little stacks, starting with a potato slice, couple of onion ring slices, another potato, and so on until the stack is 2 inches high or so, ending with a potato slice on top. Do this for all the slices.
  • Now take the stacks and place them in the baking dish on one side of the stack. Instead of layering them, the edges of the potatoes will be facing upwards.
  • Before you start making the sauce, have the milk, cheese, and other ingredients ready for use, the sauce comes together quickly.
  • Melt the butter in a saucepan then whisk in the flour and cook this for 2-3 minutes, then whisk in the the mustard, salt and pepper to your liking, and the milk. Whisk continuously until this thickens and is bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in the shredded cheeses until full melted in. (This photo is after I spooned it over the potatoes.)
  • Pour or spoon the cheese sauce over the potatoes, covering the dish evenly. Cover with foil. If the edges of potatoes may touch the foil, lightly grease the foil with butter (not the edges of foil) and then cover with the foil, greased side down.
  • Bake this for 1 hour, then remove the foil and bake for another 20-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the potatoes are cooked through.
  • Serve with a main dish of your choice.

Notes

Only costly items is the cheeses. Using half a block each of Cheddar and Swiss would be 90 Baht each, 180 Baht total. For 8 servings, this is about 70 cents per serving.
Note about the cheeses: Feel free to use just one cheese, or a combination of two cheeses, use your favorite type(s) of cheese to make this dish your own.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,POTATOES,SIDES
30 Minute Dinner Rolls
October 15, 2016 Lee
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30 Minute Dinner Rolls

Dinner rolls sound great, have not had one in ages so I will plan on making these. This is a straight forward recipe and makes a lot, so you may want to scale this back to half the recipe.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 18 rolls

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup water, luke warm
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons yeast, active dry yeast is fine
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon butter, softened
  • 3 to 4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/8 cup milk, room temperature

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 205 C and get out a baking sheet.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the water, oil, sugar and yeast. About 10 minutes later the yeast will be bubbling then stir in the beaten egg, butter, and salt.
  • Mix in 1 cup of flour at a time until you have a soft dough that is not sticky, you may not have to use all the flour. Turn this on to your lightly floured work surface and kneed for about 10 minutes.
  • Divide the dough into 18 even sized pieces and form into balls and place on the baking sheet, cover with baking paper and a kitchen towel for 10-30 minutes to let the rolls rise.
  • Just before putting the rolls in the oven, lightly brush with milk, then bake for 10-12 minutes or until just golden brown, serve.

Notes

Minimal cost.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
SIDES
Chicken Club Pasta Salad
October 14, 2016 Lee
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Chicken Club Pasta Salad

Sounds really good, I do love a good Club Sandwich. On my to cook list. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 250 grams pasta, spirals, shells, penne, any bite size pasta works here
  • 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 2 cups chicken, cooked and diced
  • 1 tomato, seeded and diced
  • 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, cubed
  • 2 cups Ranch dressing, OR make from a shortcut
  • salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a pot of boiling water, cook the pasta until tender. Drain and set aside to to cool.
  • When the pasta is cooled, add the rest of the ingredients except the Ranch dressing and toss to mix. Mix in the dressing a tablespoon at a time to your desired taste. Chill the salad in the fridge for at least an hour, serve as a side or a large portion for a easy meal.

Notes

For the chicken I will guess about 40 Baht, everything else is minimal, well under $1 per serving.
Shortcut: Ranch Dressing.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
Sides - Salads
Pizza Pasta Salad
October 14, 2016 Lee
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Pizza Pasta Salad

This sounds really good, and what you put in it is up to you, what you like on a pizza, can go in here. Very versatile and I would call this a base recipe that you can change up every time you prepare this. On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Main Dish, Side
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 250 grams pasta, spirals, shells, penne, any bite size pasta works here
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, diced, about 1/2 of a 200 gram block
  • 1/2 cup red onion, think shallots, chopped
  • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 cup Italian salad dressing, Tesco brand is inexpensive and good

Instructions
 

  • In a pot of boiling water, add the pasta and cook until just tender. Rinse and put in a large bowl, drizzle with just a bit olive oil and toss that in to prevent the pasta from sticking sticking. Let this cool a bit.
  • While the pasta is cooling, go ahead and get your ingredients chopped, diced, etc. Add all the ingredients to the large bowl except the dressing, basil, and Parmesan cheese. Toss to combine. Add the dressing and toss to coat, sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese and basil, serve.

Notes

The Mozzarella cheese will run about 70 Baht to make 1 cup of diced from a 200 gram block, if you like cheese, feel free to use more. This is about 52 cents per serving for 4 servings. Great value.
Variations: You can remove any ingredient listed and you can add any combination of your favorite pizza toppings, such as pepperoni, salami, cooked and crumbled Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled bacon, cooked mushrooms, diced ham, pineapple, cooked shrimp, and you get the idea.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
Sides - Salads
Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad
October 14, 2016 Lee
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Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad

Sounds really good, lot of ways to serve this as well, think as a sandwich with lettuce and tomato, in a green salad, or even a tortilla. A must try for me. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Lunch, Side
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup chicken, cooked, cold, diced
  • 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 4 tablespoons Ranch dressing, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, basil, or rosemary, OR 1/2 teaspoon of each if using dried
  • 1/2 stalk celery, chopped

Instructions
 

  • Mix everything in a small bowl except the dressing, once it is combined, mix in the dressing 1 tablespoon at a time to make a consistency of your liking. Chill for about an hour in the fridge.
  • Serve as is, with some lettuce, as a sandwich with lettuce and tomato, or even in a tortilla.

Notes

Minimal cost here, use the shortcut for greater savings.
Shortcut: Ranch Dressing.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
Sides - Salads